Outboard motor



Jan. 22, 1952 W. H. N EVILLE OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed June 30, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 22, 1952 W. H. N EVILLE OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed June 30, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 22, 1952 w. H. NEVILLE 2,583,059

oUTBoARD MOTOR Filed June 30, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Patented Jan. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,583,059 OUTBOARD MOTOR William H. Neville, Birmingham, Ala.

Application June 30, 1948, Serial No. 36,000

1 Claim.

This invention relates to electric steering and propelling apparatus for boats, and more particularly to electric outboard motors adapted for slow speed propulsion of small boats. Such craft are employed by anglers and others and particularly for trolling and casting for sh.

The general object of the present invention is the provision of electrical propelling and steering apparatus, and remote control means therefor. said remote control device being preferably arranged in such a way as to be foot-operable, so that the craft may be started. stopped, reversed, or steered inany direction from any convenient position in the boat, and without the useY of the hands.

More specically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a steering apparatus forsmall boats comprising a rudder, a motor for turning the rudder. alternate electric circuits for energizing the motor to run in opposite senses, an energy source, control means connecting the energy source and the motor for energizing the latter, and means associated with the rudder for opening the closed circuit when the rudder has turned through a predetermined angle.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus of the character described in the preceding paragraph, in combination with means adapted to come into operation when the foot-controlled rudder actuating circuit is deenergized, for automatically returning the rudder to neutral or inline position, causing the craft to proceed in a straight line in the direction to which it has been turned.

Another object is the provision, in an apparatus of the character described, of a plurality of cam operated switches associated with the rudder shaft for' controlling the steering motor circuits. a pair of relay devices each of which is also included in one ofthe motor circuits, and foot-operated remote control switches included in said respective circuits.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the description which follows, read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, installed in operative position on the stern portion of a boat;

'Figure 2 is a vertical section through the remote control device of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the remote control device;

.Figure iis a sectionfon line 4- 4 of Figure 2; g

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a circuit diagram;

Figure 8 is a plan view of one of the cam-oper# ated switches; and

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the `device illustrated in Figure 8.

In order to facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made to the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive language is employed. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the invention is thereby intended and that various changes and alterations are contemplated such as would ordinarily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring first to Figure i it will be noted that the apparatus of the present invention comprises generally an energy source. which may conveniently be a storage battery I0, an assembly comprising the motor driven mechanisms hereinafter described which, apart from the rudder trol station I2 being connected to each other and to the mechanisms within the casing II through the medium of cables I3 and I Il, and receptacle I5. The latter comprises any convenient arrangement of detachable plugs and sockets for providing the necessary connections between the control device, the storage battery and the several circuits within the casing II, so that the three main elements may be conveniently disconnected from each other for ready portability, and may be as easily reconnected when the apparatus is installed on a boat. The casing II, from which extend the propeller I6 and its mechanical connections. and the rudder I'I and rudder shaft I8. I8. is provided with the usual angularly adjustable mounting bracket I9 and clamping screw 20 by means of which the casing and its associated members may be clamped to the transom of the boat and adjusted to any desired vertical angle relative to the transom. The upper por-l tion I8 and lower portion I8' of the rudder shaft the boat. The neutral position to which the rudder is initially adjusted is, of course, that position which will cause the boat to move straight ahead lwithout actuation of the steering motor.

An electric motor 24 is connected with the propeller |`6 by means of a shaft 25 and bevel gears 26, 21, enclosed within suitable casing members, all of which is conventional and well known. .A second motor 23, of smaller size, is operatively connected through the medium of bevel pinion 29 and bevel gear 30 with the upper portion |8 of the rudder shaft and, through the coupling member 2| and lower portion I8 of the rudder shaft, with the rudder I1. The upper portion i8 of the rudder shaft carries cams 3|, 32, 33 and 34 for operating switches 3|', 32', 33 and 34', the latter being mounted on suitable brackets adjacent the respective cams. The brackets for the aforesaid cam operated switches are carried on a vertical transverse partition 35, on the opposite side of which are mounted relays 36 and 31.

Each of the cams 3|-34 is shaped, in plan, substantially as shown in Figure 8 and has two generally semi-circular portions of different diameters, the portion of smaller diameter corresponding to the open position of the cam operated switch, and the portion of larger diameter corresponding to the closed position of the switch. The switch in question comprises a iixed contact member 38 and a movable contact member 39 the latter being carried on a pivoted lever 46, at the opposite end of which is journalled a cam follower in the form of a roller 4|. A small spring 42 under compression between the lever 46 and an upstanding bracket 43, urges the switch toward open position` The remote control device illustrated in Figures 2-6, inclusive, comprises a casing 44 containing a vertical panel 45, a horizontal panel 46 supported on the upper edge of the panel 45 and, at its opposite edge, by a bracket 41, and an inclined panel 48 supported on brackets 49 and 56. The panels 45, 46 and 46 are formed of any suitably rigid insulating material. As best seen in Figures 2 and 4 vertical supports 5| and 52 extend from the 'loor of the casing 44 to the lateral edges of the panel 46 on opposite sides of the latter and each carries the sockets 53 for the blades of a knife switch 54. The latter is pivoted to the panel 45 at 55, 55' and is adapted to be actuated in either direction by the'arm 56 secured to shaft 51, a reversing lever 58 being secured to the latter at its upper end, externally of the casing 44. The switch 54 may, of course, be moved to either of its three positions, forward reverse or oft The panel 46 also supports the several contact members 59 of a rheostat operated by lever 66 which projects through a slot in the casing 44. By means of the rheostat the propelling motor may be adjusted as to speed and also stopped and started.

`The panel 48, as best seen in Figure 2 and 6, supports the steering buttons 6| and 62. Each button is secured to a rod 63 which also carries a contact disc 64. the latter being suspended intermediate its button 6| or 62 and the panel 48. by means of coil springs 65 and 66. When the contact disc 64 is depressed, it is adapted to bridge the contact members 61 and 68, each pair of which is in one of the steering motor circuits, for energizing the relay 36 or 31, as the case may be. The cable |4 carries the conductors for all of the control connections within the casing 44,

which are connected as illustrated by the circuit diagram of Figure 7.

The operation of the reversing lever and the speed control for the propelling motor will be obvious from the foregoing description and, except as to some constructional details, these controls are conventional. The operation of the steering control is as follows:

Assuming that the device is installed on a boat and the rudder has been adjusted to such angular position as will compensate for the location of the installation, in order that the boat will travel in a straight line when the rudder is in neutral position, and assuming that it is now desired to turn the boat to starboard (to the right), the steering button 62 is depressed by the foot, closing the circuit through the contact member 66 and 61. Crurent will then flow from the battery 18 through conductors 1| and 12, contact members 61, 68, conductors 13 and 14, relay 36, conductors 15 and 16, and thence back to the battery through conductor 11. Relay 36 will thus be actuated closing the contacts 18 and 19. Current will then flow from the battery 16 through the conductors 11 and 16, through the eld coil 80 of the steering motor, conductor 8|, normally closed cam switch 33', conductor 82, arm 66 of the relay 36, through conductor 83, armature 64 of the steering motor, conductors and 86, arm 81 of therelay 36, conductors 88 and 89 and back to the battery through conductor 1|. The steering motor, thus energized, operates in a direction to turn the rudder anti-clockwise to an extent dictated by the position of the cams 3| and 33. rllhe cam switch 3| is open when the relay 36 is energized but will close as soon as the rudder shaft begins to turn. When the rudder shaft has been turned to a predetermined extent, say 30, the cam 33 opens the circuit through the motor by opening cam switch 33 thus breaking the circuit through the steering motor field. The rudder has thus been turned by 30 and, with the motor stopped, will remain in this position, causing a continuous turning movement of the boat until the foot pressure upon the button 62 is released.

When the pressure on button 62 is released circuit through the relay 36 is, of course, opened and the contacts at 18 and 19 are broken, andcontact is made at 66 energizing the relay 31' through the cam switch 3 which has been closed during the turning movement of the rudder shaft. Actuation of relay 31 initiates a turning movement of the rudder to the port, or left, tof-bring the rudder back into neutral position, the operation of the motor being interrupted when the rudder returns to neutral by opening of the contact through the cam switch 34.

A similar but reverse sequence of operations takesplace when the button 6| is depressed in order to turn the boat to port, and is released after the boat has turned to the desired extent. Thus, the boat may be steered in either direction by depressing the proper button 6| or 62, and will automatically resume a straight course when the button is released.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured byv Letters Patent is:

Steering apparatus for small boats including in combination a rudder, a motor operatively connected for turning said rudder, a pair of circuits adapted to be alternatively closed, for energiz ing s aid motor for turning said rudder in alternative senses, relay-operated switches in said rethe spective circuits, manually operated means for selectively energizing said relays, a normally closed cam operated switch in each said circuit adapted to open the same after a predetermined turning movement of the rudder, a second, no1- mally open cam-operated switch in each said circuit adapted to be closed upon the initiation of a turning movement, and means associated with each said relay for closing the circuit through the normally open cam-operated switch of the opposite circuit when said relay is de-energized, to return said rudder to neutral position.

` WILLIAM H. NEVILLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Atile of this patent:

iii

Number Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Jones Mar. 22, 1898 Merrill Aug. 4, 1903 Salomon Dec. 17, 1907 Price May 1l, 1937 Holms Oct. 5, 1937 Rommel Feb. 21, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain of 1893 Great Britain of 1904 Great Britain Jan. 14, 1938 Germany Nov. 8, 1930 

